Sunday, January 3, 2016

No perfected compromise agreement; damages may not awarded.

"x x x.

The remaining issue is whether the spouses Tanjangco could be held liable for damages for reneging on an alleged verbal compromise agreement.

There is no reason for the Court to disturb the unanimous findings of the CA and the trial court that no compromise agreement was perfected between the parties. The existence of a perfected contract is a finding of fact that the Court will not disturb if there is substantial evidence supporting it. "Basic is the rule that factual findings of trial courts, including their assessment of the witnesses' credibility, are entitled to great weight and respect by this Court, particularly when the [CA] affirms the findings."48 For this reason, the spouses Tanjangco may not be compelled to honor a compromise agreement that never left the negotiation phase and be held liable for the alleged damages Asuncion incurred as a result of her attempts to comply to the provisions thereof.